Toby Tobin gives the county economic panel an update on Flagler construction, Cornel West goes off on Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Pasco bans a book for middle schoolers.
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Transgender Indecency
There were pragmatic ways to ensure access to bathrooms for transgender people until lawmakers hijacked the process with predatory bans that dehumanize people and make a mockery of decency.
In Latest Reversal, Sheriff Manfre Does Not Appeal Ethics Judgment as Deadline Passes
That means Manfre will concede to a $6,200 fine and a public reprimand and censure that the ethics commission approved on April 15, thus finally ending a saga that began two years ago and has severely damaged his chances for re-election.
Retired Deputy Edward Lueck Gets 15 Years in Prison Over Child Sex Assaults
The victim was 5 years old at the time of the crimes, and was a neighbor of Lueck’s, who is a 69-year-old retired Volusia County Sheriff’s deputy.
Old Kings Road To Be Resurfaced May 24-27
Palm Coast is planning road resurfacing on Old Kings Road South from Utility Drive to Town Center Blvd. starting Tuesday, May 24, and through the rest of the week.
NRA Pressuring Gov. Scott to Block Rep. Charles McBurney’s Bench Bid
McBurney, R-Jacksonville, angered Second Amendment advocates during this year’s legislative session when his committee did not move forward with a measure tied to the state’s “stand your ground” self-defense law.
Flagler’s Third Graders Improve English Skills and Climb to 10th Best in Florida
The proportion of students who scored a 3 or better (out of 5)–that is, students who are proficient in English at their grade level–also improved, from 60 percent to 63 percent.
Tuesday Briefing: Bring Your A Game Camp, Food Truck Tuesdays, Bernie Loses the Halo, Grandma in the Attic
The Bring Your A Game summer camp is explained, Bernie takes flack from his own, what to do when Grandma moves into the attic, and the rescheduled Food Truck Tuesday.
When Bernie Sanders Mirrors Donald Trump
The same Democratic candidate who decried Donald Trump for condoning violence in North Carolina in March turned right around and did the same thing in Nevada when his rally devolved into chaos. He condoned it.
Ex-Traffic Homicide Prosecutor Ray Lee Smith Joins Flagler Bench as Family Law Judge
Smith, 43, a Ponte Vedra Beach resident, will preside over family law cases. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge J. David Walsh earlier this year.
Former Shooting Victim Philip Haire Back in Jail on Assault Charge
Phillip Haire, 19, of Palm Coast’s L Section, was shot last July near his home. He was arrested in March over a shooting incident on Belle Terre Parkway, and again arrested last week on a domestic assault charge.
Democrat Morley Qualifies for House Seat By Petition
Adam Morley, the Democratic candidate for the House District 24 seat held by Republican Paul Renner, said in a release today that he had qualified for the race by petition.
Florida Supreme Court Rules That City Utility’s Service Area Trumps Some County Authority
While the case involved a local dispute on the Treasure Coast, it drew attention from counties and utilities across the state, which is carved into territories and includes myriad local franchise agreements.
Monday Briefing: Tasers for Bunnell Cops, Tim Tebow Hosts Best of Preps, Math Madness, Global Warming Madness
The Bunnell City Commission needs to replace its cops’ 10 Tasers, Tim Tebow speaks at a banquet honoring athletes and fans in Daytona Beach, a frightening graphic display of global temperatures over the past 150 years.
Five Students Split $15,000 in Scholarships from University Women of Flagler
The five students are Athena Gonzalez, Najare Mone Johnson, Amanda Hok, Emily Bell and Briana Rodriguez. They each received $3,000.
Democrats Alan Grayson and Patrick Murphy Borrow From Trump Playbook in Foul Duels
Murphy is the Democratic establishment pick for U.S. Senate. Grayson has churned out the descriptions “lickspittle pillock” and “sock puppet” to deride his fellow congressman.
Indian Trails and FPC Students Win Crime Stoppers Poster Contest
The winning students were Liying Wu, Andrew Moulter, Gage Winecoff, Jonathan DeSousa, Andrea Bowser (who won circuit-wide, too), and Hannah Umpenhour.
Court Sides With Walmart Against Union in Trespassing Dispute in Orange
A three-judge panel of the 5th District Court of Appeal said the case is part of a broader dispute about demonstrations that the union has held against Wal-Mart in various parts of the country.
Are We Finally Ready For Smart Guns? Daytona’s iGuns Technologies Aims For Yes
The iGun’s chip technology only works within centimeters and makes it impossible for anyone other than the person wearing the ring to fire it. Some gun advocates are resistant for various reasons.
Carver Foundation Fundraisers Bring In $10,500 For South Bunnell Gym
The Carver Center is a recreational facility that also offers tutoring, after school study, internet access and also serves the community with GED classes, employment counseling and other services.
Looking for Her Dog, Tamera Pizzo, 56, Is Killed by SUV on A1A in Flagler Beach
Tamera L. Pizzo was killed by a passing car as she tried to cross South Ocean Shore Boulevard (State Road A1A) in Flagler Beach, just south of South 26th Street Friday evening.
6 Local Unions Show Electoral Power as 16 Candidates For School Board, Palm Coast and County Match Mettle
The United Public Employees of Flagler County, representing 6 local public unions, hosted the largest simultaneous political forum in the county’s recent history, yielding a few insights into three races.
“I’m Dead, I’m Dead,” Handcuffed and Repeatedly Tased Man Says Just Before Dying
Chase Sherman was in handcuffs, in the back seat of his when he was Tased 15 times by Georgia police though he was unarmed, and his parents had called 911 to come help.
Flagler’s 5.1% Unemployment Nearly Matches U.S. Rate Even as Jobs and Labor Force Dip
Flagler’s unemployment rate has fallen a full percentage point in a year, and is down from 8.3 percent two years ago. The rate went down even though 179 fewer people held jobs in April, because the labor force shrank by a larger number.
At Salvo Art Saturday, “Transparency” as an Artist’s Conceptual Journey Beyond the Visible
Krystyna Spisak-Madejczyk, the featured artists at Salvo Art’s new show, is highly acclaimed in her native Poland as a sculptor and multimedia conceptual artist. She’s become well known in Flagler County’s expanding artistic circles since taking up residency in one of Salvo’s studios.
Weekend Briefing: Choral Arts Society Concerts, Transparency at Salvo, Calypso Gallery Grand Opening
“Transparency,” a new show opens at Salvo Art Project featuring Krystyna Spisak-Madejczyk, opens Saturday, the Choral Arts Society performs concerts Saturday and Sunday, Albrecht Durer is 545 years old.
Against 1 Objection, Flagler Commissioners Want to Increase Their Travel Budget 184%
Commissioner Barbara Revels called the proposed increase “obscene,” but Frank Meekera and Nate McLaughlin kept pressing for it–increasing the budget from $15,885 to $45,000 for the five commissioners.
Carmen Bourdeau Is Florida Hospital Flagler’s New ICU Nurse Manager
Bourdeau has been a nurse for nearly 25 years and began her career at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in New Jersey, as a nurse in the ICU.
At Sheriff’s Ceremony for Fallen Officers, a Call For Self-Reflection About Tradition of Service
So far this year, 35 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty, 17 of them by gunfire, 14 of them in vehicle-related deaths, two of them by heart attacks. Two of those deaths took place in Florida.
Pressured to Defy Obama Order on Transgender Bathrooms, Scott and Bondi Stay Mum So Far
Opponents of allowing transgender students to use restrooms of their choice could lead to a breakdown in school discipline or even attacks, supporters say there is no evidence of that.
Thursday Briefing: Fallen Officers Memorial, Biggest Candidate Forum Yet, Flagler Beach Montessori Lease
The annual memorial commemorating Flagler County’s four fallen officers at 10 a.m., a candidate forum featuring school board, Palm Coast council and county commission candidates, the Flagler Beach City Commission takes on a montessori school’s lease.
Kiwanis Scholarship Recipients: A Student Inspired by the Free Clinic, Another By Legal Aid for the Voiceless
Matanzas Senior Mayoree Tan volunteers at the Free Clinic, where she intends to return as a nurse, and Senior Josephine Brown wants to be a lawyer to give a voice to the voiceless.
In Victory for Flagler Beach, Dreaded and Un-Scenic A1A Signs Will Not Spear the City
The state transportation department finally barred the signs from Flagler Beach and Beverly Beach after an intense campaign by city officials that reflected almost unanimous public outrage against the signs.
Deaf Hammock Man Accused of Exposing Himself to 8-Year-Old Girl
Mark Hall, 60, is accused of exposing himself to the girl, a neighbor, and motioning her to come over to him. He appeared confused when deputies investigated the case.
Four Daytona State Students Named to All-Florida Academic Team
Andrew Adie, Corben Champoux, Joel Hinton and Danjha Leon, all associate of arts degree majors, were recognized for their academic achievement, leadership and service to their communities.
Media Groups Shut Out of Federal Lawsuit Over Prison Newspaper Ban
A federal appeals court has turned down a request by media groups to file a friend-of-the-court brief in a dispute about whether the Florida Department of Corrections can ban a publication from the state’s prisons.
TDC Favors Beverly Beach’s $32,000 Walkover Renovations, But Not Before Unusual Grilling
The questioning was another example of of the TDC’s more inquisitorial attitude toward local projects as opposed to a less rigorous or accountable approach when the applicant is an out-of-town organization, including for-profits.
FPL Bills Customers for Unbuilt Nuclear Plants But Wants Out of Justifying Need
Attorneys for consumers and business and environmental groups are fighting FPL’s request for a waiver from filing an annual analysis about the feasibility of adding two nuclear reactors in South Florida.
Wednesday Briefing: Flagler Youth Orchestra’s Surprise Soloist, Seniors’ Baccalaureate, Landon Talks
The Flagler Youth Orchestra performs the final concert of the season at the Flagler Auditorium this evening, Palm Coast City Manager talks of the city’s future, the poor can’t win in the court system.
Flagler’s Pot De-Criminalization Proposal Wilts, But Narrower Version Still Possible
A work group meeting Tuesday to craft an ordinance raised more questions and objections than showed agreement, though the proposal is still moving forward in a much narrower version, and has many hurdles yet to cross.
Flagler Commissioners Press Case to Recover Fees from 5 More Frivolous Ethics Complainants
It’s the Flagler commission’s latest attempt to strike back against almost 30 ethics, elections, Florida bar and other complaints filed against commissioners and the administration since 2014, but a previous attempt to recover fees has been unsuccessful so far.
Hundreds Of Thousands Lose Food Stamps In Florida as Work Requirements Kick In
In Florida if you can’t show that you’re working or meet the work requirements some other way, you get penalized and lose your food stamps for the following month. If you fail to meet the requirements again, it’s a three-month sanction and then six months.
Tuesday Briefing: Working-Group Pot, Food Truck Postponed, School Lunch Cost, Brown v. Board of Ed at 62
A committee of local law enforcement, judicial and other government officials meets to develop a proposed pot-decriminalization ordinance, the Palm Coast City Council discusses a European Village revamp, the school board discusses raising school lunches by 25 cents.
My Food Is My Business
I don’t feel comfortable walking into friends’ or families’ homes and berating them for their unhealthy, albeit traditional and quite common, lifestyle choices. Why then do friends and family members feel comfortable walking into my home and berating me for my healthy lifestyle choices, sometimes primarily because they aren’t the norm?
Opponents of Medical Pot Legalization Awaken from Slumber With Warning Video
The video, posted online by the “Vote No on 2 Campaign” alleges the measure would lead to a plethora of “pot shops” similar to the marijuana industry in California.
St. Johns County Commissioner Bill McClure Will Run For Crenshaw Seat in Congress
St. Johns County Commissioner Bill McClure formally announced Monday that he will run to succeed retiring Republican Congressman Ander Crenshaw in a Northeast Florida district.
A Director’s Impassioned Plea for “Have-Nots” Wins Out: New Library Would Rise in Bunnell, Not Palm Coast
Flagler Public Library Director Holly Albanese insisted–in diametric disagreement from her boss–that a proposed new library branch should remain in Bunnell, and the county commission on Monday agreed.
Separate But Equal: Palm Coast Sidesteps Transgender Bathroom Bind With Private Facilities
Palm Coast hopes to avoid the transgender-bathroom controversy by including private bathrooms in its $525,000 project for new facilities in Town Center and Indian Trails Sports Complex.
Ormond Beach’s Robert Harris, 18, Killed in Train Collision on a Trestle Off U.S. 1
Robert M. Harris, a resident of Ormond Beach, who turned 18 two weeks ago, was killed in a collision with a Florida East Coast train on a trestle behind the River Grille restaurant near U.S. Highway 1 Sunday evening.
Monday Briefing: Public Library’s Expansion Plans, Manatee Protection, Romney’s 3rd Party
The county commission examines prospects and timelines for a library addition, and some financing options, and holds a hearing on its manatee-protection plan, Romney may be testing a third-party run with GOP leaders.